A network for Business Journalists reporting on economic developments in the region was launched in Arusha, Tanzania yesterday. Dubbed the Regional Business Journalists Networking Workshop, the body will pull together reporters and analysts to discuss economic aspects of the regional integration process and implementation of important trade facilitations such as the customs union and common market protocols.

The CEO of EABC, Luzze Andrew Kagwa, told the journalists at the workshop that there was need to disseminate information about regional trade in order to increase knowledge amongst the citizens."Information and awareness remains an issue in trade and access to markets... the media is the most important channel through which ignorance about the protocols can end. We are moving into a monetary union with single currency, but people are not aware of the negotiations we make. Such important discussions should be known so that people can participate,” Kagwa said. He noted that despite the success and growth of the EAC bloc, many challenges were still ahead and needed the full participation of the citizens."We are facing problems in trade and access to markets. Trucks get stuck on the way due to non-tariff barriers and due to custom officers’ negligence. If there was a better way in which all the online and automated trade facilitations could reach to the people, these problems would be averted,” he said.The workshop was hosted by East African Business Council (EABC), in collaboration with the East African Community Secretariat.